BackgroundBreathing programs have been reported to have positive effects in alleviating symptoms and optimizing pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, patients with stable disease may drop out of such programs if they are not modified to the individual’s exercise tolerance level, or if they are not easy to perform in the home. Little is known about the effectiveness of web-based home breathing programs for dyspnea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online breathing program which included an animated diagram and video-guided instruction on pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life in patients with COPD.MethodsSixty patients with stable COPD were randomized 1:1 to an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). Subjects in the experimental group trained for four months using an online program which included an animated diagram and video-guided instruction while the control group received conventional patient education on discharge from hospital. Forced expiratory volume, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (%), peak expiratory volume, six-minute walking distance test, and responses to the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire were assessed before and after the intervention.ResultsPatients in the two groups were well matched for demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline. All outcome measures showed significant improvement in the experimental group but not in the control group.ConclusionThe online training program resulted in improved pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and health status. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that patients with stable COPD be trained with such programs.

This paper identifies evolving trends in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and recommends the integration of nursing strategies in COPD management via widespread implementation of electronic health records. COPD is a complex lung disease with diverse origins, both physical and behavioral, manifested in a wide range of symptoms that further increase the patient’s risk for comorbidities. Early diagnosis and effective management of COPD require monitoring of a dizzying array of COPD symptoms over extended periods of time, and nurses are especially well positioned to manage potential progressions of COPD, as frontline health care providers who obtain, record, and organize patient data. Developments in medical technology greatly aid nursing management of COPD, from the deployment of spirometry as a diagnostic tool at the family practice level to newly approved treatment options, including non-nicotine pharmacotherapies that reduce the cravings associated with tobacco withdrawal. Among new medical technologies, electronic health records have proven particularly advantageous in the management of COPD, enabling providers to gather, maintain, and reference more patient data than has ever been possible before. Thus, consistent and widespread implementation of electronic health records facilitates the coordination of diverse treatment strategies, resulting in increased positive health outcomes for patients with COPD.